2009

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2007

Ty Krewson's Story

In high school, Ty Krewson was a standout athlete and a high achiever who planned to pursue an engineering degree at a large state university.

However, just weeks before graduation, he sustained a serious neck injury that left him disabled.

“It was a difficult time for me,” he said, “trying to adjust to life in a wheelchair.”

While the recovery process was hard, he eventually felt strong enough to take some college classes. He chose to start taking classes at STLCC-Wildwood because it was close to home, easy to navigate and he could get the support he needed to succeed through the Access office. Later, he took his higher level math, chemistry and engineering physics classes at STLCC-Meramec.

Along with class notetakers, Krewson learned how to use voice-controlled computer programs to write papers and solve math equations.

“The transition was challenging at first, but it became easier with time,” he said. “The more classes I took, the more comfortable I got.”

In 2014, Krewson completed an associate degree in general transfer studies, graduating with a grade-point average of 3.84. He then transferred to the University of Missouri-St. Louis to pursue a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering through UMSL’s joint partnership with Washington University.